Cyclic circuit controller



Jan. 11, 1944. K. s. CHRISTENSEN CYCLIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 11, .1944. K. s. CHRISTENSEN 2, 9,

CYCLIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -INVENTOR Knu 5. ('HR/$7NSN BY QQGM W ZW ATTORNEY Patented Jan 11, 1944 CYCLIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Kaj S. Christensen, Norwalk, Conn, assignor to Automatic Signal Corporation, East Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application December 18, 1940, Serial No. 370,587

(Cl. 2il0-27) 24 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to cyclic electric circuit controllers and more particularly to an improved controller of this type adapted to switching circuits in a predetermined sequence of time periods.

Controllers of this type are particularly well adapted for controlling signal circuits in street traflic signalling systems operating the usual Go and Stop signals through a time cycle, and the controller of the present invention is de scribed in this specification as applied to such a signalling system although it will be understood that it is not limited to such application.

A cyclic controller in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention includes a timed rotating dial having keys adjustably spaced on its face and a rotary step-by-step sequence switch actuated in step by the several keys in sequence through an intermediate ratcheting mechanism which I believe to be novel in this connection. In traflic signal systems the sequence switch controls the signal circuits as actuated by the keys of the rotary timing dial, through the ratchet mechanism. The various combinations of signal circuits energized in the several steps or switch I positions are determined by the sequence switch, and the time periods during which the sequence switch remains in the respective positions are determined by the spacing of the keys in the rotating dial, with the total cycle time determined by the speed at which the dial rotates.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved rotating dial type of circuit controller of simple and sturdy construction and smooth reliable operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit controller in which a step-by-step circuit switching mechanism is actuated by adjustably spaced keys in a rotating dial through a ratchet mechanism in which a continuous reciprocating drive is made effective to rotate the stepping switch one step by each key as the key passes a predetermined point in the rotation of the dial.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circuit controller in which a step-by-step switch is stepped from one step to another through actuation by keys in a rotating dial, and in which actuation by the keys moves a reciproeating pawl into operating relation with a ratchet wheel connected with the step-by-step rotary switch, the reciprocating pawl being placed in operating position by means of a cam guide member which is actuated by the passage of the key as the dial rotates.

' vide a circuit controller of the type disclosed and in which the reciprocating drive is made effective to operate the ratchet mechanism to rotate the step-by-step switch by a manually controlled means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit controller of the type disclosed and in which the reciprocating drive is made effective by an actuating means at a particular point in the cycle of the rotating dial to operate the ratchet mechanism to provide one cycle of rotation of the step-by-step switch by the dial 'responsive to a single actuation of the actuating means; I

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

The nature of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the circuit controller with part of the dial in the foreground cut away to show the means by which the keys in the dial actuate circuit controller.

Fig. 2 shows the driving mechanism for the rotating dial, including a selective gear train.

Figs. '3 and 4 show respectively two operating positions of the reciprocating pawl and associated cam and guide members of Fig. 1. Fig.

' 3 shows the position of these parts when the reciprocating pawl is ineffective to operate the ratchet wheel and Fig. 4 shows these parts when they are actuated, by a key in the dial for example, to render the pawl effective to operate the ratchet.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of alternative controls for the operation of the circuit controller.

Fig. 6 shows in more detail the electromagnet XR of Fig. 5 and its controlling connection with guide member I54 of Fig. 1, to make the reciprocating drive effective to start the switch camshaft through a cycle responsive to traffic actu ation.

Considering now the principal operating parts of the controller and their mode of operation as illustrated in the present embodiment, reference may be had to Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 1 the rotating dial I2I is shown largely cut away at the far left side of the figure, and this rotating dial I2! appears more fully, although still partially cut away for illustrative purposes, at the top of Fig. 2.

The disc I2I is rotated at uniform speed by a motor M through a train of gears illustrated in Fig. 2. Dial IZI is provided with two concentric rows of holes I38 and I3I. A number of keys, corresponding to the number of positions of the cyclic switch of the controller, are placed in selected holes I34 at desired spacing, including one long key and several short keys.

The cyclic switch has a number of cams and contacts operated thereby, of which one cam I83 and one pair of contacts C4 are illustrated in Fig. I and additional such cam contacts are shown schematically in Fig. 5. The contacts may be connected to signalling circuits, for example. These cams are of varying shapes in accordance with the portions of the signal switching cycle in which it is desired to have the several circuits closed. These cams are rigidly mounted on camshaft I40, and a pair of ratchet wheels !45 and I52 are also attached to this camshaft.

A. double pawl and crank arm assembly, illustrated in the foreground of Fig. l, is constantly reciprocated by an eccentric drive disc I31 which is rotated by a part of the gear train of Fig. 2. The position of the two pawls I46 and I54 of this assembly with respect to the ratchet wheels is controlled by the guides I 49 and I54, and guide control cams I43 and I53, which are controlled in turn by the keys in the row of holes I30 in the dial. As keys in the dial rotate past the cams I48 and I53, the long key actuates the cam I53 once per cycle and the short keys actuate the cam I48 successively during the remainder of the cycle, actuation by these keys raising the guides I 49 and I54 and shifting the position of the pawls I46 and I56 so that they will engage the respective ratchet wheels I45 and I 52 during one stroke of the reciprocating pawl and crank arm assembly, and thus rotate the signal switch camshaft one step for each key actuation. switch camshaft is thus stepped through one revolution for each revolution of the rotating dial, with the timing of the several steps determined by the spacing of the keys in the dial.

Considering the circuit controller now in more detail, the dial I2I' rotates on a bearing surface on member I29, shown in Fig. 2, which may serve also as a thrust bearing for the dial and may be threaded internally or externally so as to screw into or on the shaft I44 on which the ratchet and cams are mounted, or into a supporting plate or panel (not shown). In either case the dial I2! rotates freely on an outer bearing surface on member I29 and independently of the movement of the shaft I40.

As previously described the dial I2I is rotated through a train of gears by the motor M shown in Fig. 2. This is preferably a self-starting synchronous motor for operation in synchronism with an alternating current power supply, but other types of timing motors may be used if such synchronism is not desired. The shaft I35 shown at the left of the dial 12! in Fig. 2, is rotated by a part of the same train of gears so that it also turns at a uniform speed, preferably a speed The signal times as fast as the dial l2? where the dial has 100 holes I34.

A disc I31 rotates with shaft I35 and has an eccentric pivot I355 on its face. Link I39 connects pivot I38 with the lower end of L shaped bell crank I42 at pivot Elli, so that the rotation of the shaft i3? causes the bell crank I42 to reciprocate, the lower arm of the bell crank reciprocating to the right and left and the upper arm reciprocating up and down.

At the upper end of the bell crank l4 a shaft I44 is rigidly secured, and a pawl I46 is pivoted on this shaft; Pawl I45 is preferably urged in a counterclockwise direction on shaft I44 by spring member I5I, so that its lower end is free of the ratchet Wheel I45 and its upper end bears against the guide member I49.

Guide 49 is pivoted at 228, on a supporting frame or panel (not shown), and is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring I 59 against the cam member I48 which is pivoted on shaft I414. The guide I43 bears against the lower endv of the cam I48.

Keys or pins I32 are placed at desired spacing in selected holes I34 in the inner ring of holes on the dial I2I and project out of the back of the dial some distance. These pins, as they pass the uppermost position as the dial rotates, bear against the upper end of the pivoted cam I48. The dial IQI rotates clockwise and the key I 32, for example, will depress the upper right hand end of the pivoted cam Hit, thereby raising the lower left hand end. This causes sprin lit to raise the guide rotating it ver slightly in a counterclockwise direction on it pivot am so that its outer end raises the upper end of the pawl I46. This presses the lower end of the pawl Mt into engagement with the ratchet wheel I45 so that as the eccentric drive causes the bell crank I42 to reciprocate, the pawl I43 will more the ratchet wheel I45 clockwise one tooth. The gear ratio between the eccentric drive member I31 and the disc I2: is set so that each key 232 will actuate the cam I 48 only long enough to have pawl I45 make one stroke.

The turning of the ratchet wheel one tooth by the actuation of the key I32 rotates the shaft I40 clockwise through one step. This camshaft I40 has rigidly attached thereto in desired angular relationship one or more came, of which one is illustrated as cam I83. Cam I83 has a project ing lobe which raises the lower contact member of the pair of contacts C4 to close these contacts when the projecting lobe is rotated around to the top position. The contacts C4 may control a work circuit to open and close the circuit alternately for whatever proportions of the signal cycle desired, and the cam iii-3 is shaped to have the projecting lobe extend through the desired part of the total cycle corresponding to the number of teeth of the ratchet wheel M5 in such part of the cycle.

Ordinarily when this controller is used as a traiiic signal circuit controller four or more signal circuit cams and contacts will 2e employed on shaft I43, six cams and contacts ordinarily being used for a signal cycle providing green, yellow, and red signal periods for each of two intersecting streets, for example. With a four period signal cycle the camshaft M0 can have four or more steps, or any desired multiple of 4, and with a six period signal cycle the camshaft I40 can have six or more steps, or any multiple of 6, with a corresponding number of positions of the ratchet wheel I45, and a corresponding number of keys in the inner row of holes I3I in the rotating dial I2I. Where more steps are used than the number of signal periods the additional steps are preferably inserted in one or more of the longer signal periods, with the si nals remaining unchanged in these extra steps.

In order to assure that the camshaft I40 will be resynchronized with the rotating dial I2I at least once in each cycle, if they should for any reason have become out of step during the cycle, one key I33 is made longer than the keys I32 and projects farther back of th dial I2I. This key is shown in Fig. 1 near the top of the dial I2I, and is shown with a break in it merely to indicate that it is considerably shorter than appears in the exploded form of Fig. l, in which the several parts along the shaft I40 near the left end of the shaft are shown much further spread apart than in actual construction, in order that the view of those parts in front will not block that of others behind.

Crank arm I43 is rigidly attached to th outer end of the upper arm of bell crank I42 by means of the short shaft I44, which is shown broken in Fig. 1 merely to indicate that it appears much longer in the exploded view than in actual construction. The crank arm I43 reciprocates with the upper arm of the bell crank I42, and pawl I56 is pivoted on shaft I44 at the outer end of the crank arm I43. This pawl I58 bears against guide I54 which is pivoted at the bearing member 2H and which is urged in a counterclockwise direction around this bearing by the spring I55 against the cam I 53 which is pivoted on shaft I41, but turns freely on this shaft just a does the similar cam I48.

The ratchet wheel I52 is provided with one tooth in position to be actuated by pawl I55 at one point in the cycle of the camshaft I40, whenever the guide I54 is raised by action of the cam I53. Cam I53 is rotated slightl clockwise when the long key I33 passes th uppermost position during rotation of the dial. One such long key I33 is used for each cycle of the camshaft I40. The ratchet wheel I45 has one blank position where a tooth is omitted corresponding to the position of the single tooth on ratchet wheel I52. As the dial I2I rotates the several keys I32 actuate the ratchet wheel I45 through its several steps until the blank tooth position. is reached. At this point in the camshaft cycle only the long key I33 is able to advance the camshaft by actuation of the cam I53 to raise the guide I54 and move the pawl I55 into position to engage the single tooth of the ratchet wheel I52 during one stroke of the bell crank I42 and associated crank I43.

When the camshaft I40 has 12 positions in its cycle as illustrated by the teeth on the ratchet wheels I45 and I52 in Fig. 1, eleven short keys I32 and one long key I33 are placed in desired positions in the inner row of holes I30 in the face of the dial I2l. It will be understood, therefore. that the uniform rotation of dial IZI at a predetermined speed determines the total cycle length of the circuit controller and any signal cycle con trolled thereby, and the relative spacing of the keys in the inner row of holes I39 in the dial determines the division of the cycle into various parts of desired length for the several positions.

The combinations of signal circuits energized in the different positions are determined by the shape of the signal cams on the'shaft I40 and on the connections from the cam controlled contacts to the signal circuits.

In the present controller a local pair of contact members I1I, I12 are placed as shown in Fig. 1 near the top of the dial I2I in position to be actuated by key I34, which is placed at the desired position in the outer row of holes I3I in the dial. When key I34 is rotated past the uppermost position it raises the contact member I1I to separate it from contact member I12.

For the purpose of better illustration of the action of the cam member I58 and the guide member I49 and the pawl I46, these several members are shown in two different operating positions in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 shows the several parts in the normal resting position between actuations by the keys in the inner ring of holes I30 of the dial I2I. In this normal resting position the guide I49 is held in a depressed position by the left end of the cam I48, and the left or upper end of the pawl I48 is thus in its lower position so that the lower end of the pawl I46 extends to the right and out of range of the teeth of the ratchet Wheel I45.

In Fig. 4 the cam I48 is shown turned slightly clockwise so that the guide I43 is raised to its upper position to raise the upper end of the pawl I46 and thus deflect the lower end of this pawl to the left to place it in position to engage the ratchet wheel I45. The guide I49 is constantly urged against the cam I 48 by the spring I59 which is shown in Fig. l but is omitted for simplicity of illustration in Figs. 3 and 4. Similarly the pawl His is urged against the guide I49 by spring means or by gravity or if desired it may be arranged to be maintained in either of its alternate positions by friction and to be moved out of reach of the teeth of the ratchet I on return strokes of the bell crank member.

The gear train between the driving motor M and. the rotating dial IZI and eccentric disc I31 preferably includes means for selecting gears to provide a speed changing arrangement for the dial IIII, in order to provide longer or shorter total cycles as desired. A preferred gear changing arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2 in which the motor drives gear H2 in a counterclockwise direction on the motor shaft III. Gear H4 is driven in mesh with gear H2, gear II4 rotating in a clockwise direction. and having attached thereto the gear H5. The gears H4 and I I5 rotate on the short shaft II3 which is rigidly fixed in the sector Ila which is pivoted on the shaft H1 at the center of the gear H9, and has its lower periphery serrated to engage gear I24 which is pivoted on shaft I26. Gear I24 engages gear I25 which is rigidly attached to the shaft I23. At the outer end of the shaft I23 is placed the adjustment knob I22.

The gear I25 and the gear I24 and sector III are normally held in position with the gear H4 in mesh with gear M2, by means of the locking pin I21 which engages the teeth of the gear I25. The adjusting knob I22 may be pulled out a short distance to pull out the shaft I23 and the gear I25 to free the latter from the pin I21, while still engaging gear I24, and by turning the knob I 22 the gears I25 and I24 will be rotated to turn the sector H8 to free the gear II4 from the driving gear H2 so that a different gear may be substituted for gear I I4 to provide a different gear ra" tio between the driving gear H2 and the driven gear combination II4-I IE1. When the substitute gear is in place the adjustment knob I22 is turned clockwise until the new gear H4 meshes with gear H2, and the adjusting knob and shaft I23 and gear I25 will then be returned to their back position to be held in place by the short locking pin I21, by means of a return spring not shown.

The driven gear I on shaft II3 on the sector IIB meshes with gear H9 to which is rigidly attached the gear I26 which in turn meshes with the serrations on the periphery of the dial I2I to rotate the latter. Arrows are shown on the several gears Fig. 2 to show their direction of rotation. Gear II9 also meshes with gear I36 on shaft I35 to rotate the eccentric disc I31 as shown in Fig. 2.

Provision is made in the circuit controller to interrupt the normal dial key actuation of the camshaft I46 and to substitute manual actuation if desired, so that the camshaft will remain at rest in any desired signal circuit position until manual actuation causes it to step to the next position.

At the forward end of the shaft I41 in Fig. l, appearing in front of the cam I48, is a small plate i51, which is rigidly attached at its lower end to the shaft I 41. At the upper end of this plate I51 is rigidly attached a shaft I58 extending over the cams I48 and I53. At the rear end of the shaft M1 is rigidly attached a crank arm I64. At the outer end of the crank arm E60 a link member l6I is connected at pivot I62. The right hand end of the link member I6I is connected to an armature plate I63 which is pivoted at its lower end I64. The link member I6I is pivoted at the top of the plate I63 on the pivot I65.

During the ordinary automatic drive of the camshaft I46 by means of the pins in the dial, the armature plate I63 is in the position shown in 1 with the crank arm I66 in a vertical position and with the plate I51 and its shaft I53 slightly free of the cams I48 and I53. When the armature plate I63 is rotated slightly clockwise to the right on the pivot I64, the crank arm I66 is also rotated slightly clockwise to the right by the connecting link I6I and the shaft I41 is thus rotated slightly to the right, as are also the plate I51 at the forward end of the shaft I41, and the shaft I58. The shaft I58 in being turned toward the right about the shaft I 41 as an axis, rotates the cams I48 and I53 clockwise to the right sufficiently so as to move the upper end of the cam I48 out of range of actuation by the pins I32 and I33 and similarly cam I53 is moved out of range of actuation of pin I33, and these cams I48 and I53 are turned so as to bear against the right hand projection on the top of the guides I 49 and I54. I

By rotating the shaft I 41 and the plate I51 and its associated shaft I58 to the position shown in Fig. 4 the guides will place the pawls I46 and H56 in position to engage the ratchet wheels I45 and I52 respectively at each stroke of the reciprocating action of the bell crank I42 as driven by the eccentric disc I31. By turning the shaft I41 further in a clockwise direction by turning the armature plate I63 further to the right the cams M3 and I53 will be turned so that the projection near the right end on the lower side of these cams will depress the guides I49 and I54 so as to release the pawls I46 and I56 from the ratchet wheel. Thus by controlling the position of the armature plate I63 the eccentric reciprocating drive can be made effective or ineffective to rotate the camshaft as desired.

At the upper end of Fig. 1 a preferred arrangement is illustrated for controlling the position of the armature plate I63 to serve as a manual control of the notching of the camshaft. An adjusting knob I16 is rigidly attached to shaft I61 at the forward end, and a cam I 68 is rigidly attached at the rear end of this shaft I61. The shaft I61 passes through a supporting plate I59 on the frame of the circuit controller which may also serve as a bearing for the shaft I 41 as well as the shaft I61.

The adjusting knob I16 has two positions indicated onthe frame member I59 as automatic and manual positions. In the automatic position to the left as shown in Fig. 1 the cam I68 is in a vertical position, free of the armature plate I63. If the adjusting knob I10 is turned to the right, however, to the manual position, the cam I68 is also turned to the right to move the armature plate I63 from its stop I66 so as to rotate the cams I 53 and I48 to the positions shown in Fig. 4 in which the pawls are continuously effective to rotate the ratchet wheels and camshaft.

There is also rigidly mounted on shaft I51 an additional cam I69 which is rotated with the shaft I61 to close the pair of contacts SM in the manual position of the adjusting knob I10. The closing of contacts SM prepares a circuit to energize the magnet MR, at the upper end of Fig. l to pull the armature plate I63 still further to the right away from the cam I68 and correspondingly to rotate the shaft I41 and the cams I48 and H53 further to the right to depress the guides I49 and I54 sufficiently to free the pawls I46 and I56 from the ratchet wheels so that no ratcheting of the camshaft will occur although the normal synchronous drive and rotation of disc I2I will continue.

By placing a manually controlled switch in the circuit of the magnet MR this magnet can be energized or deenergized as desired. In the present preferred arrangement the circuit through the switch is normally closed in absence of manual actuation and the magnet MB is normally energized holding the armature plate 563 in its furthest position to the right so that the automatic ratcheting action is interrupted and the signal camshaft I40 remains at rest. The manual switch is arranged to be opened by manual actuation, to deenergize the magnet MR and allow the armature plate I63 to move slightly to the left until it contacts the projection on cam I68, which has been turned to the right in the manual position now being described. This slight movement of the armature plate I63 to the left allows the cams I48 and I53 to move slightly counter clockwise to allow the guides I49 and I54 to assume the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the reciprocating action of the pawls 546 and I56 is effective to ratchet the camshafts.

The circuit for magnet MR for manual control is shown in preferred form in Fig. 5, extending from the right hand power wire 585 via wire I91, magnet MR, switch SM, wire H33 to junction point 2H2. At this point the circuit is divided itno two branches, the first branch via cam contact CIa and wire 266 to upper contact 2i3 of switch ST, and the second branch via cam contact CI?) and wire M9 to lower contact 2M of switch ST. The circuit then continues via switch ST and wire 2m to the left hand power supply wire I84.

The power supply wires I and IE4 are marked positive and negative respectively at the top of Fig. 5 for convenience but it will be appreciated that in the preferred form of the invention with an alternating current synchronous driving motor M the power supply will be alternating current.

The switch SM is closed when the selector knob I is turned to the manual position as previously described, and this places magnet MR under control of manual switch ST and cam contacts CI a and Oil). The switch ST may preferably be of the well known rotary toggle type for example so that each time it is pushed it will reverse its position and then will remain in the last reversed position until again pushed, when it will reverse to the original position. Thus switch ST will be alternated between its contacts H3 and 2M by successive manual actuations.

As shown in Fig. 1 the cam contacts Cia and (III) are lower and upper contacts controlled by cams ISI and I82 on the signal switch camshaft and closed alternately by action of cam I82.

Traflic actuated control of the signal cycle can be provided in the presentcontroller if it is desired, and the mechanical features of the apparatus for making the reciprocating drive effective to advance the signal camshaft responsive to traffic actuation are shown in Fig. 6.

A traffic actuated relay DR controls the starting of the controller through a signal cycle by means of the electromagnet XR and a mechanical connection with the guide Iiid as shown in Fig. 6, to control the engagement of the pawl I56 with the ratchet wheel I52 as the pawl IE6 is regularly raised and lowered by the reciprocating drive.

When this trafiic actuated feature is desired in the controller the traffic detector relay DR is provided and the magnet XR and the mechanical linkage of Fig. 6 are added and arranged to maintain the guide I5 1 depressed in the absence of traiiic actuation.

Considering now in more detail the control of the guide member I54 by the magnet XR. and in turn by the detector controlled relay DR, reference may best be had to Fig. 6. The guide members hi3 and I 54 and their respective pivots 2III and ZII are shown in the foreground of Fig. 6 for orientation with the showing of Fig. l, but for convenience of illustration the semi-perspective view is shown from the left side in Fig. 6 as compared with the showing from the right side in Fig. 1.

A small cam I13 bears against the top of the guide member I54. This cam I13 is rigidly attached to the shaft I14 which passes through a bearing in the frame member I39. A crank arm I15 is rigidly attached to the rear end of the shaft I14, and a link I16 connects the crank arm I15 at the pivot I'I'I with the armature I18 of the eiectromagnet KB. The link I16 bears on the pin I80 as a pivot, and the armature I18 operates on the pivot I19 at the top.

The several parts are shown in Fig. 6 in position corresponding to trafiic actuation, with the magnet XR deenergized and the lower part of armature I18 swung to the right so that the shaft I14 and the cam I13 allow the guide member I54 to come up to its normal resting position against the lower left hand end of the cam I53 shown in Fig. 1. In this position the pawl I56 is still held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I52 but as soon as the rotary dial rotates the key I33 to the top position the cam I53 will be turned slightly and the guide I54 will be raised to make the pawl I56 effective to engage the ratchet wheel I52 and advance the camshaft from position I2.

Such action by the key I33 would be impossible,

however, if the cam I13 were in its lower position as it would be in absence of actuation so that in absence of actuation the long key I33 would be ineffective to raise the guide I54 to permit the advancement of the camshaft from position I2.

Normally in the absence of traffic actuation the magnet XR. is energized over a back contact (2T2 of the relay DR when the latter relay is in its deenergized position. ihis circuit may be traced from the negative power wire I84 via wire 2&9 contact dr'z, electromagnet XR, Wire I96 to positive power wire I85. Thus the normal energization of magnet XR in absence or" trafiic actuation will hold the lower end of the armature I18 to the left and maintain shaft I14 and the cam I13 turned clockwise a small amount to maintain the guide I54 in a depressed position. When traflic actuation occurs and energizes relay DR as previously described the back contact dr2 will be opened so as to deenergize the magnet XR, allowing its armature I18 to fall back, for example by action of a spring not shown, to the position shown in Fig. 6, to allow the guide I54 to rise to the position where the long pin I33 can be efiective to cause advancement of the camshaft from position I2.

It will be appreciated that with the arrangement described for trailic actuated control the signal camshaft will normally remain at rest in the absence or" traffic actuation, and that alter trafiic actuation has occurred the cam shaft will still remain at rest in the same position until the long pin I33 reaches the top position in the current cycle or rotation of the dial. Thus where this arrangement for traffic actuation is employed at two or more controllers or this type, driven by synchronous motors from a common alternating current power supply, or maintained in synchronism by a master controller, the signal camshafts of the two controllers will each be individually responsive to traiiic actuation in predetermined time relation with their own dials, and with the master controller if one is used, and when both are actuated they will operate through their cycle in predetermined time phase relation with each other, as determined by the positions of the long pin I33 in the dial of each controller.

It will be understood that further changes in the character and arrangement of the various parts or substitution of equivalent parts or arrangements of apparatus may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A cyclic circuit controller including a stepby-step cyclic switch, ratchet means operable to advance said cyclic switch from one step to another in its cycle, a continuously operating recip rocating means, and means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said reciprocating means to and from said ratchet means to operate said ratchetv means to so advance said cyclic switch when connected. 7

2. A cyclic circuit controller including a stepby-step cyclic switch, ratchet means, time controlled means for reciprocating said ratchet means at a determined time rate, and means synchronized with said time controlled means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said ratchet means to and from said cyclic switch to advance said cyclic switch at desired time in- 3. A cyclic circuit controller including a stepby-step cyclic switch, ratchet means, time controlled means for reciprocating said ratchet means'at a determined time rate, and means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said ratchet means to and from said cyclic switch to advance said cyclic switch from one step to the next by each reciprocation when connected, a shaft rotating in synchronous time relation with said time controlled means, and means arranged said cyclic switch when non-actuated and con- 1 necting said ratchet means to said cyclic switch to advance the latter one step by each reciprocation of said ratchet means when actuated, a rotating disc having a plurality of projecting elements thereon in selected angular relation with its axis of rotation foractuating said ratchet connecting means for one reciprocation of the ratchet means for each such element.

5. A cyclic circuit controller including a sequence switch having a cycle of positions through which it is adapted to .be operated step-by-step, a rotating dial having a plurality of keys thereon corresponding to the number of positions of said cycle, a constantly operating intermittent drive mechanism, and means engaged by said keys as said dial rotates to connect said intermittent drive mechanism momentarily to said sequence switch to drive the switch from one step to the next responsive to each key engagement.

6. A cyclic circuit controller including a sequence switch having a cycle ofpositions through which it is adapted to be operated step-by-step, a rotating dial having a plurality of keys thereon in selected angular spacing in relation to the axis of rotation of the dial, a constantly operating intermittent drive mechanism, and means engaged by said keys as said dial rotates to connect said intermittent drive mechanism momentarily to said sequence switch to drive the switch one step responsive to each key engagement for operating said switch through the several steps of its cycle at selected time intervals in accordance with the selected spacing of said keys.

'7. A cyclic circuit controller including a sequence switch having a cycle of positions through which it is adapted to be operated step-by-step, a rotating dial having a plurality of keys thereon in selected angular spacing in relation to the axis of rotation "of the dial, a constantly operating intermittent drive mechanism, and means engaged by said keys as said dial rotates to connect said intermittent drive mechanism momentarily to said sequence switch to drive the switch 8. A cyclic circuit controller including a sequence switch having a cycle of positions through which it is adapted to be operated'step-by-step, a rotating dial having a plurality of keys thereon in selected angular spacing in relation to the axis of rotation of the dial, a constantly operating intermittent drive mechanism, and means engaged by said keys as said dial rotates to connect said intermittent drive mechanism momentarily to said sequence switch to drive the switch one step responsive to each key engagement for operating said switch throughthe several steps of its cycle at selected time intervals in accordance with the selected spacing of said keys and means synchronizing each driving action of the intermittent driving mechanism with rotation of said dial through an angle which is the common divisor of all the angles between keys in said dial.

9. A cyclic circuit controller including a sequence switch having acycle of positions through which it is adapted to be operated step-by-step, a rotating dial having a number of key positions evenly spaced therein and keys in selected positions, a constantly operating intermittent drive mechanism synchronized with said dial to conform the time spacing between successive driving actions of it intermittent drive to the time required for the dial to rotate between successive key positions and means engaged by said keys as said dial rotates to connect said intermittent drive mechanism momentarily to said sequence switch to drive the switch one step responsive to each key engagement for operating said switch through the several steps of its cycle at selected time intervals in accordance with the selected spacing of said keys.

10. A cyclic circuit controller including a sequence switch having a cycle of positions through which it is adapted to be operated step-by-step,

a rotating dial having a plurality of keys thereon corresponding to the number of positions of said cycle, a ratchet wheel on said sequence switch, a reciprocating arm adjacent said ratchet Wheel, a pawl pivoted on said arm so asto'travel over a path adjacent said ratchet wheel as said arm reciprocates, a guide member bearing against said pawl during a part of the travel path and means actuated momentarily by each of said key as said dial rotates to move said guide member to guide said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel to advance said sequence switch one step for each key.

11. A cyclic circuit controller including a rotary step-hy-step sequence switch having a number of operating positions through which it is adapted to be operated cyclically, a ratchet wheel attached to said rotary switch, a time controlled motor, a pawl reciprocated continuously by said motor, a disc rotated continuously by said motor, a cam guide-member cooperating with said pawl as the latter is reciprocated and having two operating positions, the first position to guide the pawl out of engagement with said ratchet wheel and the second position to guide the pawl into engagement, and a'plurality of keys placed in selected angular positions on said disc to engage said cam guide member to shift said cam guide member from said first'to said second position momentarily at selected timeintervals as said disc rotates.

12. A cyclic circuit controller including a'stepby-step sequence switch having a cycle of operating positions and'corresponding switch operating combinations, a shaft rotating at constant speed, a ratchet wheel connected with said sequence switch, a pawl means operated by said rotating shaft to reciprocate said pawl over a path adjacent said ratchet wheel, means for guiding said pawl in said path for engagement with said ratchet wheel when actuated and for --disengagement from said ratchet Wheel when not actuated, means operated cyclically by said rotating shaft to actuate said guiding means a plurality of times at selected time spacing in each cycle corresponding to the number of operating positions of said sequence switch.

13. A cyclic circuit controller including a stepby-step sequence switch having a cycle of operating positions and corresponding switch operating combinations, a shaft rotating at constant speed, a ratchet wheel connected with said sequence switch, a pawl means operated by said rotating shaft to reciprocate said pawl over a path adjacent said ratchet wheel, means for guiding said pawl in said pathfor engagement with said ratchet wheel when actuated and for disengagement from said ratchet wheel when not actuated, a disc rotated by said shaft, a plurality of keys in said disc in selected angular positions about the axis of rotation of the disc to actuate said guiding means momentarily as said disc rotates.

14. A cyclic circuit controller including a shaft rotatable through a cycle of a plurality of steps, switches operated by said shaft in the several steps, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a second shalt rotating constantly, a pawl reciprocated by said second shaft over a path adjacent said ratchet wheel, a disc rotated by said second shaft, keys in said disc in selected angular positions with respect to the axis of rotation of the disc and projecting from said disc, a guide member bearing against said pawl, and a cam in position to be actuated momentarily by said keys as said disc rotates to control said guide member normally to maintain said pawl disengaged from said ratchet wheel throughout the reciprocating path when not actuated and to move said guide member to bring said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel in the reciprocating path to advance the first shaft when actuated.

A cyclic circuit controller including a shaft rotatable through a cycle of a plurality of steps, switches operated by said shaft in the several steps, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a second shaft rotating constantly, a pawl reciprocated by said second shaft over a path adjacent said ratchet wheel, a disc rotated by said second shaft, keys in said disc in selected angular positions with respect to the axisiof rotation of the disc and projecting from said disc, means guiding said pawl in said path and having two operating positions the first position to maintain said pawl disengaged from said ratchet wheel throughout said path and the second position to guide said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel to advance the wheel step-by-step as said pawl reciprocates in said path, and control means for selectively placing said guiding means in and out of the path of the keys in said rotating disc as desired to shift said guiding means from its first to its second position rnomemtarily by passage of each key when said guiding means is in the path of said keys and to maintain said guiding means continuously as long as desired in its second position when placed out or the path of said keys.

16. A cyclic circuit controller including a shaft rotatable through a cycle of a plurality of steps, switches operated by said shaft in the several steps, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a second shaft rotating constantly, a pawl reci procated by said second shaft over a path adjacent said ratchet wheel, a disc rotated by said second shaft, keys in said disc in selected angular positions with respect to the axis of rotation of the disc and projecting from said disc, means guiding said pawl in said path and having two operating positions, the first position to maintain said pawl disengaged from said ratchet wheel through said path and the second position to guide said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel to advance the wheel step-by-step as said pawl reciprocates in said path, and control means selectively placing said guiding means in the path of movement of said keys in said rotating disc to shift said guiding means from the first to the secend position momentarily by passage of each key or placing said guiding means out of such path of said keys, said control means including means actuatable to shift said guiding means as desired from said first position to said second position and including a connection with the first mentioned shaft to maintain said guiding means in said second position after such actuation and until said first shaft has been rotated to a predetermined one of its positions and then to release said guiding means to said first position until said actuatable means is again actuated.

17 A cyclic circuit controller including a shaft rotatable through a cycle of a plurality of steps, switches operated by said shaft in the several steps, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a second shaft rotating constantly, a pawl reciprocated by said second shaft over a path adjacent said ratchetwheel, a disc rotated by said second shaft, keys in said disc in selected angular positions with respect to the axis of rotation of the disc and projecting from said disc, means guiding said pawl in said path and having two operating po sitions, the first position to maintain said pawl disengaged from said ratchet wheel throughout said path and the second position to guide said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel to advance the wheel step-by-step as said pawl reciprocates in said path, and control. means for selectively placing said guiding means continuously in its first position and out of the path of movement of said keys as said disc rotates or placing said guiding means in the path of said keys for shift of said guiding means from its first position to second position momentarily by passage of each of said keys 18. A traffic signal controller including a sequenceswitch having a cycle of positions through which it is adapted to be operated step-by-step to provide a cycle of a plurality of right of way sig naling and intermediate change signalling conditions, a rotating dial having a plurality oi keys at selected angular spacing thereon corresponding to the number of positions of said sequence switch, a constantly operating intermittent drive mechanism, and means engaged by said keys as said dial rotates to connect said intermittent drive mechanism momentarily to said sequence switch to drive the switch one step responsive to each key engagement for operating said switch through the several steps of its cycle at selected time intervals in accordance with the selected spacing of said keys.

19. In a traffic signal controller having a stepby-step sequence switch with a plurality of switching positions through which it is adapted to be operated cyclically to provide a cycle of a plurality of right of way signaling conditions, a ratchet wheel connected with said sequence switch, a time controlled motor, a pawl reciprocated by said motor over a path adjacent said ratchet wheel, means guiding said pawl normally to maintain said pawl disengaged from said ratchet wheel and adapted to be actuated to guide said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel, a shaft rotating in predetermined time relation with said motor, actuating elements arranged in desired angular position on said shaft for actuation of said guide means, and electromagnetic means for engaging said guide means for rendering said guide means selectively ineffective and effective to be so actuated by one of said actuating elements to maintain said sequence switch normally in one of said positions when ineffective and to initiate a cycle of operation of said sequence switch by all of said actuating elements when effective.

20. In a traffic signal controller having a stepby-step sequence switch with a plurality of switching positions through Which it is adapted to be operated cyclically to provide a cycle of right of way signaling conditions, ratchet wheel means connected with said sequence switch, a time controlled motor, pawl means reciprocated by said motor over a path adjacent said ratchet means, means guiding said pawl means normally to maintain said pawl means disengaged from said ratchet means and adapted to be actuated to guide said pawl means into engagement with said ratchet means, ashaft rotating in predetermined time relation with said motor, actuating elements arranged in desired angular position on said shaft, and control means for engaging said guide means to render the guide means selectively ineffective and effective to be so actuated by said actuating elements whereby said sequence switch will be maintained in one of said positions when said guide means is rendered ineffective and said sequence switch will be operated through the cycle of said positions when said guide means is rendered effective.

21. In a traffic signal controller as in claim 20, said control means including a cam having one position bearing against said guide means to render the latter ineffective to be so actuated and having a second position free of said guide means to render the guide means effective to be so actuated, and an electromagnetic device for operating said cam from one position to the other selectively.

22. In a traffic signal controller having a stepby-step sequence switch with a plurality of switching positions through which it is adapted to be operated cyclically to provide a cycle of right of way signaling conditions, a pair of complementary ratchet wheels connected with said sequence switch, one ratchet wheel having one ratchet tooth per cycle and the other ratchet wheel having the remainder of teeth'to complete the cycle, a time controlled motor, a pair of pawls reciprocated by said motor over a path adjacent said ratchet wheels and cooperating with said ratchet wheels respectively, means guiding said pawls normally to maintain the pawis disengaged from the associated ratchet wheels and adapted to be actuated to guide said pawls into engagement with said associated ratchet wheels,

a shaft rotating in predetermined time relation with said motor, actuating elements arranged in desired angular position on said shaft and including one actuating element arranged for actuation of guide means only for engagement of said pawl associated with said one tooth ratchet wheel and the remainder of the actuating elements arranged for actuation of the guide means for said other pawl, and control means for rendering said guide means for the first mentioned pawl selectively ineffective and effective to be so actuated by said one of said actuating elements to maintain said sequence switch normally in one of said positions when ineffective and to in tiate a cycle of operation of said sequence switch through said plurality of said positions by all of said actuating elements when effective.

23. In a controller having a step-by-step sequence switch with a plurality of switching positions through which it is adapted to be operated cyclically to provide a cycle of a plurality of signaling conditions, a ratchet wheel connected with said sequence switch, a time controlled motor, a pawl reciprocated by said motor over a path adjacent said ratchet wheel, means guiding said pawl normally to maintain said pawl disengaged from said ratchet wheel and adapted to be actuated to guide said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel, a shaft rotating in predetermined time relation with said motor, actuating elements arranged in desired angular position on said shaft for actuation of said guide means, and electromagnetic means for engaging said guide means to render said guide means selectively ineffective and effective to be so actuated by one of said actuating elements to maintain said sequence switch normally in one of said switching positions when ineffective and to initiate a cycle of operation of said sequence switch by all of said actuating elements when effective.

24. In a controller having a step-by-step sequence switch with a plurality of switching positions through which it is adapted to be operated cyclically to provide a cycle of signaling conditions, ratchet wheel means connected with said sequence switch, a time controlled motorpawl means reciprocated by said motor over a path adjacent said ratchet means, means guiding said pawl means. normally to maintain said pawl means disengaged from said ratchet means and adapted to be actuated to guide said pawl means into engagement with said ratchet means, a shaft rotating in predetermined time relation with said motor, actuating elements arranged in desired angular position on said shaft, and control means for engaging said guide means to render the guide means selectively ineffective and effective to be so actuated by said actuating elements whereby said sequence switch will be maintained in one of said switching positions when said guide means is rendered ineffective and said sequence switch will be operated through the cycle of switchin positions when said guide meansis rendered effective.

- KAJ S. CHRISTENSEN. 

